Draft and buffer gear



Oct. l5, 1935.

S. B. HASELTINE DRAFT AND BUFFER GEAR Filed Oct. 14, 1953 Patented Get. 15, 1935 UNETED STATES DRAFT AND BUFFER GEAR Stacy B. Haseltine, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W. H.

Miner, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofy Delaware Application October 14, 1933, Serial No. 693,639

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in draft and bufng gears especially adapted for mine cars.

One object of the invention is to provide a 5 simple and ecient combined draft and buing gear, which may be economically manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gear of the character described in the preceding paragraph, which may be rea-dily mounted 10 en the end of a mine car and wherein simple and eiiicient means is employed for attaching the same to the end of the car, which means, when in operative position, also serves to limit the outward movement of the draft and buiiing mem- 15 bers of the gear.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specication, Figure l is a horizontal sectional View of one end of a mine car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith, said -view being broken away and the section being on two different planes, and the improvements being 20 shown in part plan and part horizontal section.

Figure 2 is a part end elevational and part vertical sectional view, broken away, of the structure shown in Figure i, the section being on the line 2--2 of Figure l. And Figure 3 is a Vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

In said drawing, l indicates one end of a mine car, il the vertical end wall, i2 the floor, and i3 an angle bar connecting the end wall l i to the 3Q floor l2 and forming, in eifect, the end sill member of the car.

My improved draft andbuiing gear comprises broadly a draft member A; a pair of buiiing caps BB; a pair of shock absorbing springs C-C; a pair of combined retaining and stop bolts D-D; and a pair of guide castings E-E.

The draft member A is in the form of a transverse beam having spring cages lf3-i4 at opposite ends thereof. As most clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, the spring cages lltlli are in the form of casings which are open at their forward ends. The main body portion of the beam of the draft member A comprises a flat, platelike section i5 connecting the spring cages Ill-i4 and a forwardly projecting, central web I6, which has the midsection thereof thickened, as indicated at il. The thickened portion I'l extends beyond the front edge of the web l 6 and is formed with a vertical opening i8 adapted to accommo- 55 date a coupling pin. The rear en-d portion of each spring cage i4 is closed by a vertical wall I9 having a central opening 20 therethrough. The wall I9 is offset forwardly with respect to the section l5 of the draft member and is provided with an annular, rearwardly projecting 5 flange 2|, which surrounds and reinforces the opening 2D of said wall I9.

The bufiing caps B-B, which are disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism, are of like design. Each cap has a transverse front wall sec- 10 tion 22 which presents a curved outer bufng surface 23 adapte-d to cooperate with the buing cap of an adjacent car. The wall 22 has a rearwardly projecting, annular ange 24 thereon,

which telescopes over the outer end of the spring cage ifi at the corresponding side of the gear. Centrally of each buing cap B is a rearwardly projecting, hollow boss 25 adapted to accommodate the head of the corresponding combined retaining and stop bolt D, as hereinafter more clearly described.

The shock absorbing springs C-C are disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism and are accommodated within the spring cages ifi-ifi. The rear ends of the springs C-C bear on the rear walls I9-I9 pf the spring cages lli-I4. At the forward ends, the springs C-C bear on radial Webs 26-26 provided interiorly of the bufling caps B-B. The front ends of the springs C-C also bear on the inner ends of the bosses 25-25 of the bufling caps B-B, the bosses 251-25 being provided with annular shoulders for this purpose, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

rihe guide castings E-E are secured to the inner side of the end wall l l of the car, as clearly shown in Figure i. Each guide casting comprises a platelike section 2l having a forwardly projecting, sieevelike, hollow boss 28 thereon. The boss 23 extends through an opening 29 in the wall El of the car and through the opening fit of the end wall lg of the corresponding spring cage of the draft member A. The boss 2B is preferably of such a length as to engage within the coil of the corresponding spring C. Each guide casting E is also provided with a stop lug 3Q, which is spaced rearwardly from the platelike sectie-n 2i thereof and overhangs the opening the sleevelike boss 28. The platelike section 2i of each guide casting is secured to the end wall i of the car by any suitable means, rivets being shown in the present instance.

The combined retaining and stop bolts D-D extend through the openings of the buiiing caps B B and the sleevelike bosses ZE-Z of the guide castings E-E and have the heads thereof B-B. The bolts D-D serve to hold the mechanism assembled and attached to the end of the car, each bolt being pro-vided with a nut 3l at the inner end thereof for this purpose. The nuts 3l-3I of the bolts have shouldered engagement with the platelike sections 2'1--21 of the castings E-E, thereby limiting the outward movement of said bolts. Inward movement ofV each bolt is prevented by engagement of theinner end thereof with the stop lug 30 of the corresponding guide casting E. e

In order to prevent foreign matter from entering between the draft member and the end Yof the car when the draft member is in its outermost position, I provide an angle bar 32, which is secured to the end of the car and also serves to strengthen the end wall I l of said car. As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the flange 33 of the angle bar 32 is disposed in a horizontal plane and overhangs the inner` endV portion of the draft member A. The liange 33 is of such a width that it will at all times overhang the draft member so that foreign matter will be prevented from dropping between the draft member and the end wall Il of the car. As will be evident, such foreign matter, if permittedv to enter between these parts, would form an obstruction which would prevent the draft member from moving against the end wall of the car, thus decreasing both the draft and bufling strokes of the gear.

In mounting the combined draft and bufling gear on the end of the car, the guide castings E--V-E are iirst secured in position. The assembled parts comprising the draft member A, the

bufling caps B-B, the springs C-C, and the bolts' like bosses 28-8 of the castings E-E. TheV nuts 3l-3I are then secured to the bolts and locked in position by cotter pins Sil-34 in the usual well-known manner.

The operation of my improved combined draft and buiiing gear is as follows: When a pulling force is applied to the draft member A, the same is moved outwardly away from the car, thereby compressing the springs C--C against the buffing caps B-B, which at this time are held in fixed position by the bolts D-D. Outward Ymovement of the draft member is limited by engagement of the front ends of the spring cages with the inner sides of the bufng caps.B-B, thereby preventing undue compression of the springs C-C. In a bufling action, the bung caps B B are forced inwardly toward the end of the car, 'thereby compressing the springs C-C against the draft member A, which at this time is held stationary by engagement with the end wall Il of the car. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, sufficient clearance within the bosses 25-25 of the bufng caps B -B is provided to permit the required movement of the buirlng caps without the heads of the bolts being projected beyond the buiiing surfaces of said bufling caps. Inward movement of the buiing caps B-B is positively arrested by engagement with the outer Vends of the spring cages lll- I4 of the draft member A.

The bosses I28--28 of the casting E-E are of such a length that they extend through the draft member A in all operative positions of the latter and thus form effective guide means preventing lateral and vertical'displacement of the draft member A.

y I have herein-shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a draft and bufling gear for mine cars, the combination with a draft member having means for coupling the same to an adjacent car, said draft member having guideways at opposite ends thereof; Yof a buiiing member, said draft and buiiing members being movable toward and away from each other; spring means interposed between said members and having the front and rear ends thereof bearing respectively on said bufng and draft members; supporting means having guide lugs thereon extending through the guideways of said draft member; and attaching means extending lengthwise of the car through said buffing member and said lugs, said attaching means having shouldered engagement with the bufting member and car to limit outward movement of said bufling member.

2. In a draftr and bufng gear for mine cars, the combination with a draft member normally bearing on the end of the car, said draft member having guide openings at opposite ends; of spring means bearing at the inner end on the draft member; a bracket secured to the end of the car, said bracket having cylindrical guide sleeves extending through the guide openings ofthe draft member; a buing member bearing on the outer end of the spring means; and a retaining element disposed lengthwise of the car and extending through the guide sleeve and the buing member, said retaining element having shouldered engagement at the inner end with the car to limit outward movement of said retaining element, said retaining element also having shouldered engagement -at the outer end with the bufng member to limit outward movement of the latter.

3. In a draft and buiiing gear for mine cars, the combination with a draft member extending transversely of and bearing on the end of the car; of shock absorbing meansat opposite sides of the car bearing on the draft member; bufling means bearing on said shock absorbing means; and combined guide and retaining means disposed lengthwise of the car extending through the draft member and bung means and comprising portions having shouldered engagement with the car to limit outward movement of said retaining means, said combined means including portions on which the draft member is slidable, said means also including head portions in shouldered engagement with the bumng means to limit outward movement of the latter.

4. In a draft and leuning gear for mine cars,

Vthe combination with a draft member extending transversely of the end of the car and normally bearing on said end; of shock absorbing springs bearing at their inner ends on said draft member; a pair of buffing caps at opposite sides of the car bearing on the outer ends of said springs; guide sleeves projecting from the end of the car and extending through the draft members; and retaining bolts extending through said springs, guide sleeves, and bufling caps, said bolts having shouldered engagement at opposite ends with said car and buiing caps to retain the draft and bung gear in position on the car and limit outward movement of the bung caps.

5. In a draft and bufng gear for mine cars, the combination With a supporting member on the end of the car having forwardly extending cylindrical guide sleeves thereon; of a draft member extending transversely of the end of the car and normally bearing on said end, said draft member being slidingly supported on said guide sleeves; a pair of buiiing caps at opposite sides of the car, said caps being movable inwardly toward said draft member; shock absorbing means interposed between the draft member and buing caps to yieldingly oppose relative movement thereof; and retaining bolts extending lengthwise of the car through said guide sleeves and buiiing caps, said bolts being anchored to the end of the car and having shouldered engagement with the bufng caps to limit outward movement of the latter, said draft member having stop means thereon engageable with the bufng caps to limit outward movement of the draft member during a draft action of the mechanism and inward movement of the buiiing caps during a buing action.

6. In a draft and bufng gear for mine cars, the combination with a draft member extending transversely of the end of the car and normally bearing on said end, said draft member having forwardly opening spring cages at opposite ends thereof; of a pair of buiiing caps telescoped over said spring cages and engageable with the front ends of said cages to limit relative movement of said draft member and bufiing caps; springs Within said cages bearing on the inner sides of said caps; a supporting member secured to the end of the car, said member having forwardly projecting cylindrical guide sleeves thereon, extending through the draft member and supporting the same forl sliding movement and retaining elements anchored to the end of the oar and extending through the buffing caps, the cages of the draft member, and the guide sleeves, said retaining elements having shouldered engagement with the buing caps to limit outward movement of the latter.

7. In a draft and bufng gear for mine cars, the combination with a draft member normally bearing on the end of the car, said draft member having circular guide openings at opposite ends; of spring means bearing at the inner end on the draft member; a pair of bufiing members bearing on the outer end of the spring means; guide sleeves forwardly projecting from the car and fitting within said guide openings of the draft member; retaining elements disposed lengthwise of the car and extending through the bufng members and said sleeves, said retaining elements having shouldered engagement at the inner end with fixed abutment means on the car to limit outward movement of said retaining elements, said retaining elements also having shouldered engagement at the outer ends with the b-uffing member to limit outward movement of the latter; and transversely extending bracing means fixed to the end of the car above said draft member, said means having a ledge overhanging the rear portion of the draft member to shield the latter.

8. In a draft and buiiing gear for mine cars, the combination with a draft member having means for coupling the same to an adjacent car; of a buffing member, said draft and bufiing members being movable toward and away from each other; spring means interposed between said members and having the front and rear ends thereof bearing respectively on said buiiing and .draft members; attaching means extending lengthwise of the car through said draft and the combination with a draft member normally bearing on the end of the car; of spring means bearing at the inner end on the draft member; a bufling member bearing on the outer end of the spring means; a supporting bracket fixed to the end of the car; and a retaining element disposed lengthwise of the car extending through the draft and buiiing members and said bracket, said retaining element having shouldered engagement with said bracket to retain said element against inward and outward movement, said retaining element having shouldered engagement at the outerend with the bui-ling member to limit outward movement of the latter.

10. In a draft and buiiing gear for mine cars, the combination with a draft member extending transversely of and bearing on the end of the car; of shock absorbing means at opposite sides of the car bearing on the draft member; bufling means bearing on said shock absorbing means; supporting brackets fixed to the end of the car, each bracket having an abutment ledge thereon; and retaining elements disposed lengthwise of the car extending through the draft member, bufng means, and brackets and having their inner ends abutting said ledges of the brackets, said retaining elements having shouldered engagement with the brackets to limit outward movement of said elements, said elements also having heads at their outer ends in shouldered engagement with the bufling means to limit outward movement of the latter.

11. In a draft and bufng gear for mine cars, the combination with a draft member extending transversely of the end of the car and normally bearing on said end; of shock absorbing springs bearing at their inner ends on said draft member; a pair of bufiing caps at opposite sides of the car bearing on the outer ends of said springs; brackets fixed to the end of the car, said brackets having forwardly projecting bosses extending through the end of the car; and retainer bolts extending through said springs, draft member, caps, and bosses of the brackets, said bolts having shouldered engagement at opposite ends with said brackets and bufng caps respectively to retain the draft and buiiing gear in position on the car and limit outward movement of the buiiing caps.

12. In a draft and bufiing gear for mine cars, the combination with a draft member extending transversely of the end of the car and normally bearing on said end, said draft member having forwardly opening spring cages at opposite ends thereof; of a pair of buiiing caps telescoped over said spring cages and engageable with the front ends of said cages to limit relative movement of said draft member and buiiing caps; springs within said cages bearing on the inner sides of said caps; a pair of supporting brackets fixed to the end of the car, each bracket having a platelike section provided with a forwardly projecting, hollow boss extending through the end of the car, each bracket also having a stop lug thereon spaced'rearwardly from said platelike section thereof, said stop lug overhanging the opening of the boss; and retaining bolts extending through said bufng caps, cages of the draft member, and bosses of the brackets, each bolt having a head at the outer end and a nut at the inner end, the heads of said bolts having shouldered engagement with the bufng caps, the nuts of said bolts being confined between the platelike sections and the lugs of the brackets, and the inner ends of the bolts being overlapped by said lugs and held against inward movement by engagement with the latter.

STACY B. I-IASELTINE. 

